Fuel absorbent

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for producing a fuel absorbent, which comprises the steps of: dissolving an organic polymer having a function of trapping fuel in a solvent to produce a polymer solution; adding a crosslinking agent to said polymer solution to allow said organic polymer to react in the presence of said crosslinking agent; and collecting, after the completion of the crosslinking reaction, the resultant fine polymer gel particles. The invention also relates to a porous fuel absorbent produced by the above process comprised of fine cross-linked organic polymer formed into particles. The above fuel absorbent along with coatings and a carrier may be used to control fuel evaporation loss in automobile canisters or boiler fuel tanks.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A porous fuel absorbent comprising: a cross-linked organic polymer formed into particles, said cross-linked polymer being selected from the group consisting of polypropylenes, polyethylenes, polyisoprenes, polybutadienes, polyisobutylenes, polystyrenes, polynorbornenes, silicon polymers, ethylene-propylene-diene copolymers, styrene-butadiene copolymers, ethylene-propylene copolymers, isobutyleneisoprene copolymers, butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymers, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, acrylic polymers, styrene-isoprene copolymers, epoxy polymers, and epichlorohydrin polymers:   a dispersant coated on an outer surface of said particles, said dispersant being selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohols, gelatins, tragacanth gum, gum arabic starch, methyl celluloses, carboxymethyl amino soaps, sulfates of higher alcohols, synthetic surface active agents, proteins, vegetable gums, alginates and saponin; and   a reactive substance coated on said dispersant coating said reactive substance having a network structure which prevents pores in said particles from being clogged by coating materials on said outer surface of said particles, and said reactive substance is a material selected from the group consisting of urethane resins, epoxy resins, silicone resins and amino resins.   
     
     
       2. A porous fuel adsorbent according to claim 1 wherein said reactive substance forms a coating with a thickness in the range of from 0.1 to 50 μm. 
     
     
       3. A porous fuel adsorbent according to claim 1 wherein said adsorbent is bonded to a carrier. 
     
     
       4. A fuel absorbent according to claim 3, wherein said carrier is a material selected from the group consisting of granules, plates, cloths, and threads.